Apparatus for introduction of antiknock fuel mixture



ay M, 1948. N. E. WAAGET Al.

APPARATUS FOR INTRODUCTION OF ANTIKNOCK FUEL MIXTURE Filed March 19, 1945 .ZH/EZZZUJE Patented May lli, 1948 FFEQ APPARATUS FOR INTRODUCTION OIF ANTI- mIOCK FUEL limiTURE Norman E. Waag and David E. Anderson, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to Thompson Products, lne., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of @lilo Application March 19, 1945, serial No. 583,408

This invention relates to apparatus to be associated with carburetors of internal-combustion engines for introducing supplemental fluid such as alcohol and water, for mixture with the power fuel to eliminate detonation or knocking of the engine and to increase engine operation efliciency.

An important object of the invention is to produce a simple, economically manufactured unitary apparatus which may be readily mounted between the engine carburetor and intake manifold for the introduction of the supplementary huid.

Another object is to provide apparatus which will function eiliciently at all times for the delivery of a predetermined flow rate of the supplementary fluid in accordance with the varying operating conditions of the engine to eliminate knocking where it is otherwise likely to occur.

Still another object is to provide apparatus from which the delivery of the supplementary iluid is automatically jointly controlled by spring means and the manifold vacuum.

Another object is to provide apparatus in which a diaphragm connected with a flow control valve for the uid is subjected to manifold vacuum for movement for control of the valve against the opposition of a spring assembly for the proper rate of fuel delivery during various operation conditions of the engine in order that supplementary iiuid will be delivered only when required and in proper amounts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a discharge accelerating Valve structure functioning normally to maintain atmospheric pressure between the diaphragm and the fluid in a supply chamber but which, upon depression of the accelerator pedal for acceleration of the'engine, will momentarily shut oil` the air ow for subjection of the diaphragm to pressure by the spring assembly for exertion of pressure against the fluid for introduction of an instantaneous charge of supplementary fuel into the engine intake manifold and a consequent suppression of detonation before it has a chance to set in.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detail specification in connection with the drawing, on which drawing Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of the apparatus and its mounting in service position; and

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on plane II-II of Figure l.

The apparatus shown comprises a body structure I and a cover structure Ii, each of these structures beingin the form of a simple casting lili d Claims. (Cl. 261-69) of non-corrosive metal, such as brass. The body part is in the form of 'a cup to form a supply chamber l2 for the supplemental fluid, such as water and alcohol-mixture, and to house the float I3 which is fulcrumed by its arm M on a pin I5 supported by the body at one side thereof. At one side of the cover Il is a boss I6 having at its inner end the threaded bore il and at its outer end the threaded bore i8. The two bores# are separated by the internal annular flange I9 through which extends the passageway 20. The threaded bore I8 forms the inlet for receiving a pipe 2l or other conductor for delivering supplementary fuel from a tank (not shown) to the iloat chamber l2.

A cylindrical valve housing 22 threads into the bore il to abut the sealing washer 23 resting against the flange i9. Extending into the housing 22 from the lower end thereof is the bore forming a valve chamber 2d, a port 25 connecting the valve chamber with the passage 20 for flow of fluid from the pipe.2l into the valve chamber. Within the valve chamber is a, needle valve 26 `for cooperation with the port 25 to contro1 the inilow, the valve having the wings 21 thereon for guiding its movement in the valve chamber and between which the fluid flows to the float chamber. A wall 28 extends inwardly on the body l0 at the upper edge thereof and has the passageway 29 through which the lower end of the valve housing projects when the body and cover are assembled. The valve rests with its lower end on the oat arm M adjacent to the fulcrum pin l5 for operation of the valve by the float to control the opening and closing of the valve in accordance with the level of the iluid in the float chamber.

In the underside of the cover Il is the large cylindrical recess 30 forminga diaphragm chamber and above this recess is a smaller diameter recess providing a spring chamber 3|. Between the valve chamber and the float chamber is interposed a diaphragm 32 which may be extended to engage between the body and cover to form a gasket therebetween when the body and cover are secured together. The float i3 is of the annular or doughnut type and is concentric with the diaphragm and the chambers 30 and 3|. The diaphragm is received between upper and lower plates 33 and 3Q, the diaphragm and the plates having a passageway therethrough for the threaded end 35 of a valve stem 36 for clamp ing of the diaphragm and plates between the shoulder 31 on the stem and a nut 3B.

Y The valve stem 36 extends down through the 3 center of the float into the upper portion of the passage through an annulai guide 'flange Il projecting upwardly from the bottom of the body I0. the downward movement of the stem being limited by the engagement of the shoulder 4U thereon with the upper end of the guide flange. Secured at its upper end to the lower end of the stem, as by threading. is the metering valve 4I of comparatively slender frustoconical or tapering shape for cooperation with the seat 42 surrounding the lower end of the guide flange passage to define an annular port or orifice .43 whose area varies as the valve is moved with the diaphragm, A flow passageway extends through the flange 38 for flow of fluid from the float chamber into the lower end of the an'ge passage for outflow through the orice 43.

Depending from the bottom of the body ID is'a boss 45 threaded to receive a hollow plug 46 which, with the upper end of the bore provides a vchamber 41 into which fluid flows from the float chamber through the orifice 43.l A passageway 48 extends from the chamber 4l through the body l along the bottom and one side thereof for communication with the passageway 49 in the cover Il, which passageway 48 terminates in the outer vertical face 56 of a flange 6| on the cover. The flange El is secured, as by screws, to the flange 52 on a supporting plate or block 63 which extends horizontally to be interposed between and secured to the lower flanges 64 of a'. carburetor 55I and the flange 56 at the inlet of the engine intake manifold 51, the plate 'o3 having the passage 58 therethrough through which the carburetor mixture flows to the manifold. On its flange side the plate 53 has the radial bore 69 therethrough into which is inserted the nozzle 60 whose outer end seats in the recess 6l at the end of the passageway 49, the nozzle outlet opening 62 being directed downwardly in the axial line of the passage 58. The nozzle is preferably of the spray type so that the fluid withdrawn therefrom by the manifold vacuum will be delivered in spray form for mixture with the power fuel delivered by the carburetor.

A flow passageway 63 in the cover il extends from the diaphragm chamber 36 to the face 60 of the flange 6 l to communicate .with the passageway 64 in the plate 53 leading to the plate passage 58, and through these passageways the intake manifold vacuum is communicated to the diaphragm chamber. An air inlet opening 65 is provided on the body i@ for maintaining the float chamber above the level of the iluid therein at atmospheric pressure. The diaphragm is thus subjected on its underside to atmospheric pressure and on its upper side to the vacuum pres- 'sure in the diaphragm chamber.

^ Interposed lizvetween the diaphragm plate 33 y and the 'upper wall of the spring chamber 3| is' the inner or primary helical spring 66, and surrounding this spring is the outer or secondary p helical .spring 61 which is secured to be sus- 'pended from the top wall of the spring chamb er totermlnate normally a distance above the diaphragm. The inner spring functions to alone Yresist upward movement of the diaphragm by vacuum pressure during a predetermined range Y oflower vacuum pressure, while both springs will being in closed position with maximum fluid level in the float chamber, and the inner spring 66 holding the diaphragm down with its stem 36 against the end of the guide flange 39 with the valve 4I in position for maximum opening of the orifice 48. When the engine is now started, and runs at comparatively low speed, such as idling speed, -and the vacuum is sulcient to raise the diaphragm against the resistance of the primary spring 66, the valve 4I is moved in orifice closing direction. As the engine throttle setting is increased for the delivery of more power and the intake manifold vacuum decreases, the diaphragm will be moved by the spring 66 for movement of the valve 4l to increase the areay of the orifice 43 with corresponding increase in the rate of delivery of supplementary fuel. During the initial movement of the valve 4I which may be, say 30% of its total travel in orifice reducing direction, only the primary or initial spring 66 is engaged by the diaphragm. When the engine is operating themanifold vacuum is variable, and the rate of flow and delivery of the supplementary iluid is dependent upon manifold vacuum, the spring rate of the spring assembly, and the area of the orifice controlled by the valve 4l. The ini- .tial spring 66 is therefore dimensioned and applied so 'that when acting alone to resist the vacuum pull on the diaphragm it will cooperate with the vacuum and the orifice area forincreasing flow of fluid under increasing vacuum pull on the nozzle but with diminishing rate of increase as the orifice area is decreased against the resistance of the spring. The secondary spring 61 comes into play aifter the initial movement ofthe diaphragm and valve against the initial spring 66'and then, for the final movement of the diaphragm and valve, both springs function to increase the spring rate for decreasing of the delivery of supplementary fuel at the desired rate, and finally at -a predetermined point,

a sealing washer 68 on the lower end of the determined flow rate of supplementary fluid is obtained for ecient operation of the engine without knocking where knocking would otherwise occur. During the various ow rates of the supplementary fuel, the float I3 will control the fluid inlet valve 26 for maintaining a fairly constant fluid level in the oat chamber.

When the engine is running under full torque load with wide open throttle and full power fuel delivery, andthe vacuum is low and the metering valve exposes substantially full orifice area, the fluid level in the oat chamber may vary slightly 'from its normal or static level, due to outflow of supplemental fluid for engine requirements. As the engine power requirement is reduced, and the intake manifold vacuum correspondingly increases, the diaphragm, under control of the vacuum and the spring rate of the spring assembly, will be moved for movement of the metering valve for reduction of orifice area. for corresponding outow of supplementary fuel, and during the various conditions of operation of the engine until it comes to rest, the metering valve will be operated for the predetermined flow and there is no vacuum, the 1108i Valve (6 rate.

14, a seat for the valve being adjustably secured in the outer end of the bore as by threading thereinto. A bore 16 extends through the body 'l0 and stem 1I for connecting the valve chamber with the float chamber below the diaphragm and above the fluid level.

The ball valve and its seat are of nonmetallic material which will resist corrosion by the supplementary fluid, and the valve material has a density greater than that of the uid so that under normal conditions, any fluid which might, find its Way into the valve chamber will not seat the valve to shut off atmospheric flow. 'I'he diameter of the ball valve is less than the diameter of the valve chamber so that normally the valve will roll down the inclined bottom of the valve chamber for exposure of the restricted passageway 'il through which the space between the diaphragm and the uid is normally maintained at atmospheric pressure. When the throttle is now depressed for acceleration, and the intake manifold vacuum is suddenly correspondingly reduced. the spring assembly above the diaphragm will follow up and move the diaphragm. and the valve down for correspondingly increasing the area of the orifice d3. This downward movement ofthe diaphragm will also displace a quantity of air thus raising the pressure between the diaphragm and the fluid above atmospheric pressure, and

' this pressure, by reason of the restricted passageway Tl, will be exerted against the ball valve to force it against the seat l5 to shut off further outflow of air, and the raised pressure, acting against the fluid, will force iiuid out of the supply chamber through the increased area orifice and out through the flow channels into the spray nozzle, the net result being an instantaneous charge of supplementary fluid and a consequent sppression of detonation before it has a chance to set in. The seat 15 for the ball valve is adjustable'for the desired control and timing of the operation of the vent valve.

We have thus produced a simple, economically manufactured unitary apparatus which will efciently function to deliver `supplementary fluid at the proper rate during the various conditions of operation of an engine for increasing the efficiency of operation thereof and eliminating knocking when knocking would otherwise occur; We do not, however, desire to be limited to the exact construction, arrangement and operation shown and described, as changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as definedv in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A fluid feed device comprising a casing having a float chamber and a spring chamber, a diaphragm separating said chambers, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for said float chamber, a float in said float chamber, a valve actuated by said float coacting with said inlet to regulate feed of fluid to the float chamber, a metering valve actuated by said diaphragm and coacting with said outlet to regulate flow` of fluid out of the float chamber, spring means in said spring chamber acting on said diaphragm and arranged to resist closing movement of the metering valve with a varyingdegree of resistance to provide one rate of resistance for initial closing movements of the valve and a higher rate of resistance for closing movements of the valve beyond said initial movements, means for connecting the spring chamber to a source of vacuum to act on the diaphragm for closing the metering valve against the action of said spring means, means venting said float chamber to the atmosphere, a normally open check valve in said venting means arranged to seal the vent whenever a quick drop in vacuum in said source permits a sudden shifting of said diaphragm by said spring means causing a decrease in size of said float chamber whereby fluid in said float chamber will be placed under pressure and ejected through the outlet which is opened by the spring action on said metering valve.

2. A feed device comprising casing means delining a fluids chamber and a spring chamber, a diaphragm separating said chambers, an inlet and an outlet for said fluids chamber, a metering valve actuated by said diaphragm and having a tapered surface coacting with the said outlet to vary the effective orifice size in the outlet, spring means in said spring chamber acting on said diaphragm to urge the metering valve in a direction for increasing the orifice size in said outlet, a passageway arranged for connecting said spring chamber with an intake manifold of an engine, means defining a passageway connecting said outlet with said intake manifold, said engine evacuating said manifold and said vacuum acting on the diaphragm in opposition to the spring means for moving the metering valve toward outlet closing position and for drawing fluid from the fluids chamber through said outlet and passageway into said manifold, means venting the fluids chamber to the atmosphere, and a valve member in said vent means arranged to close the vent upon rapid egress of fluid from the fluids chamber whereby gradual fluctuation in vacuum in said intake manifold will effect shifting of the metering valve and diaphragm While said air vent allows the uids chamber to breathe and whereby sudden increase in manifold pressure will cause said spring means to suddenly shift the diaphragm to decrease the size of the fluidsl chamber thereby causing a. sudden egress of fluid through the vent to close the valve therein and pressure the fluid for squirting through the outlet and passageway into the manifold.

3. A fluids feed device comprising a casing having a float chamber and a spring chamber, a diaphragm separating said chambers, an inlet and an outlet for said float chamber, a float in said float chamber, a valve actuated by said float coacting with said inlet to regulate feed 0f anti-detonant fluid to the float chamber, a metering valve actuated by said diaphragm and coacting with said outlet to regulate flow of antidetonant out of the oat chamber, a first compression spring in said spring chamber acting on said diaphragm to urge the metering valve for opening said outlet, a second compression spring in said spring chamber engageable with said diaphragm to aid the first spring only after the rst spring is partially compressed by closing movements of the metering valve whereby initial closing movements of the metering valve are resisted by one spring load and further closing movements beyond said initial movements of the metering valve are resisted by two spring loads,

means for connecting the spring chamber to a variable source of vacuum for acting on the diaphragm to close the metering valve in opposition to the action of said springs, means venting said iloat chamber to the atmosphere, and a normally open check valve in said venting means arranged to seal the vent whenever a quick drop in vacuum in said source permits a sudden drop of said diaphragm by the spring load thereon for pressuring anti-detonant in the float chamber through said outlet.

4. Apparatus for feeding supplementary rluid to an internal combustion engine which comprises a casing having a oat chamber and a chambers, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for said oat chamber, a float in said float chamber, a valve actuated by said float coacting with said inlet to regulate feed of uid to the float chamber, a metering valve actuated by said diaphragm coacting with said outlet to regulate flow of fluid out of said float chamber, spring means in said spring chamber acting on said diaphragm to urge the metering valve toward open position, means for connecting said spring chamber to the intake manifold of an engine, means for connecting said outlet of the noat chamber to said engine to feed supplementary fluid thereto, an atmospheric vent in the upper portion of said oat 20 Number 25 Number chamber, a valve in said vent arranged to ncrmally open the vent, and said spring means in said spring chamber being eiective to rapidly depress said diaphragm into the float chamber whenever vacuum in the spring chamber rapidly drops and said valve means being ,arranged to close said vent upon rapid egress of uid through the vent caused by said ,depression of the diaphragm whereby uid in said float chamber is pressured and rapidly squirted through said outlet.

NORMAN E. WAAG.

DAVID E. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS l Name Date Wolfard Oct. 21, 1930 Beatson Jan. 19, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Oct. 13, 1923 Great Britain June 16, 1938 France Sept. 30, 1929 

